My greatest mistake as a Producer—MORRIS K. SESAY

With over 15 movies to his credit as a producer, Morris K. Sesay, a Sierra Leonean, has, undoubtedly, established his feet firmly in Nollywood. In this interview with MERCY MICHAEL, he shares his inspirational journey in Nollywood so far as well as the controversy trailing his personality.

YOU used to produce back-to-back before you suddenly took a break. What are you currently working on?

I just finished a production, Birthday Bash, which is a thriller. I played the character of the host of the birthday bash in the movie. It’s a three-part movie and this is the first of the part.

Our casting changed more than three times. Our first casting was Bovi. We wanted Bovi, Mike Ezeronye and Tonto Dikeh. Already, we had Jude and Funky Mallam. When we did the first casting, we called Mike, but he charged one ridiculous amount and I said I would not pay. Then, he came down for us a little bit.

But one thing I have learnt with production is that you work with people’s time. But you should try to work on your time, so that it will favour you; otherwise, you end up spending more money. If an actor says he will be on your set for five days, anything can happen within that period. So, I don’t sign contract for five days. I will tell you that we are going to do this shoot in two weeks, but anything can happen. As an actor and a professional too, you should know that. So, he gave us a couple of days probably because he wanted to travel and I said no.

I wanted Nonso Diobi because I’ve never worked with him. However, I don’t think he took time to read the script because it would have really been a welcome back of sorts for him. And Desmond Elliot was like, what about Yul or Julius? Also, Tonto too was asking for so much money and I really did not have that kind of money. And then, I called Funke Akindele, who is my girl anytime, any day. She gave me her price too and I begged her. Usually, Funke will come down for me and that is why I love and respect that woman so much. But at that same time, she was doing For Coloured Girls; so, she said the money had to be good, if she had to shuttle the two sets. She said: “You know say you na my person. But the money has to be worth it. I can’t put myself through that stress.” That’s why I just love her more. At least, she was open. And then, I remember that Belinda is also my friend. I called her and told her about the script. She said she was in town, but I told her there was no money. She said, “Please, come. You na my person. So, basically, that was how we just did the whole casting. Later on, we got Bobby Michael also. We had some other actors too that came along. Basically, we shot the film, but I was scared.

Why?

I was scared because I had done so many films that were not successful. But everybody kept saying that this is going to be one of the best of my productions. And then, the budget that was supposed to be N2 million suddenly rose to N5million. There is something we say in Sierra Leone that, if you take me and shake me, one naira will not come out of my body. That was how bad I was then. My bank account was in red.

How were you able to wrap up the production considering the fact you had financial constraint?

First of all, I would say that when you have a family that loves you and believes in your dream, then you are blessed. And then, my sister, Ginnefine Kanu, was also in the film. She too put in money. We shot here and then we went and shot on the Island. I was thinking of what we could do to make the movie exciting for people to enjoy.

When you said most of your other films haven’t been that successful. What exactly do you mean?

As I said, most of my other movies have not been that successful because I learnt the hard way. I wanted to learn for myself and do what I wanted to do. I didn’t want anybody to tell me what to do or how to do it. That is the honest truth, because experience is the best teacher. I have learnt a lot when it comes to production. I’ve done some productions that I don’t think I can even bring out. For instance, in this film, I thought I could do the comedy part (laughs). You see, naturally, I’m a very funny person. I make people laugh a lot. But I had no idea that I am not a comic person. The film is not about me o. The only thing is that it’s my production. The actors that have this film are Julius, Funky Mallam, Tope Tedela and Jude Orrorha. The two comedians killed the film. It’s an experience I’m going to repeat again, no matter what.

What’s next after Birthday Bash?

I want to take some time out. And I’m planning on shooting in America. I’m planning on doing a horror film. It’s more like a thriller. I have the script already and I plan to shoot part of it in America and the other part in Nigeria. If I say I want to do a horror film, it’s for Sierra Leoneans. They like horror films.

So far, how many movies have you produced?

If I’m not exaggerating, I think I’m on number 15.

What do you think you haven’t been doing right in the past?

I think I’ve done poorly, publicity-wise. That’s the first thing I think I have done. I’m one of those people who think that if you do a good film, it will publicise itself. I didn’t know that when you do a movie, publicising the movie is quite important. I have done films that are better than a lot of people have done, but I think that I didn’t do the hype for it. Then, I think I have made a mistake in the past with casting. If you get it wrong with the casting, you will definitely get it wrong. One thing I have also learnt is that if the role is not for you, don’t play it just because you are the one producing the film. Those are the mistakes that I’ve made over the years and I just hope that I keep doing better things as I go along.

You were simply fantastic in your in Paradox…

(Cuts in)That was the movie that was supposed to take me to the next level of my career. Because when we did Paradox, we did it in Sierra Leone and I wanted to make my people proud. Paradox and Kamara’s Tree are two movies I regret not putting in the cinema. That’s why I say I’ve made some mistakes. The funny thing about Paradox is that my son and my mum were standing there watching me most of time that I was acting. At some point, I got lost in the character. I just took the character personally and gave it my best.

Acting wise, who would you say is your role model?

I cannot use the word role model because I refuse for anybody to be my role model. If you say you are my role model, I say you shouldn’t do that because you don’t know me personally. My role model has always been my mum and my family because I know them inside-out. When it comes to acting, I usually watch a lot of the females. I think the females can act a lot more than the males. I love Mercy Johnson; I think she is the best in this country right now because there is nothing she cannot interpret. I also love Nse Etim and Rita Dominic. I watch a lot of female films because females naturally have drama. But among males, I will mention Ramsey Nouah, Desmond Elliot, Majid Mitchel, Olu Jacobs, RMD and then Yul Edochei.

Any plans to work with Mercy Johnson soon?

My mum would tell me that if I don’t work with Mercy Johnson, it means I haven’t done anything in the acting world (laughs). I don’t even love her, but my mum and my aunty are crazy about her. The last time I was talking with my aunty and I told her that I saw Mercy Johnson, she said I shouldn’t wash the cloth that she hugged me with. They love her in Sierra Leone. I will work with her, but the right time has not come yet. When you want to work with people like her, Genevieve Nnaji and Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, you also have to find a fantastic script because it will cost you money and you are sure you will make your money back.

Did you just acquire a new tattoo?

I have some stretch marks that were coming out and I didn’t like them. So, I went to a dermatologist to see if I could get laser treatment to clear it, but he said laser doesn’t work for black people yet. The only other thing they could do was to cut it out, but he said I didn’t have enough skin. So, he advised that I get some tattoos knowing how embarrassing stretch marks can be.

What’s written on it?

Love, friendship and loyalty!

And you have this feminine thing about you…

I never grew up with any boy in my life. That is the honest truth. I grew up with all girls. My brothers were way older than I am.

When you hear stuff like you are gay. How do you react?

It doesn’t really bother me. Everybody has a right to his or her opinion. And my grandmother once told me that people are going to talk and that if they don’t talk, then you are not doing something right. I’ve been robbed at a gun point in Lagos; so, anytime I’m going out, I usually go with a friend. Talking about walking with a girl, that is another situation. I have my family to take care of; I have a son that’s in school. So, I have a whole lot of things that I am doing. If people want to focus on the negative parts of life, I can’t stop them.